Combination container and rack



IAug. l0, 1965 E. H. STRAUS ETAL 3,199,569

COMBINATION CONTAINER AND RACK lllllIlIllllllll IHHIHIIIIIIIIII L n 32 28A INVENTOR.

United States Patent (i) 3,199,669 COMBINATION CGNTAENER AND RACK Eric H. Straus, Jackson Heights, and Ailyn D. Staord, Staten isiand, N. assignors to Clay-Adams, Inc., New York, NX., a corporation of New York Fiied Aug. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 363,858 3 Ciaims. (Cl. 20d-44.11)

This invention relates t-o a combination `container and rack, and more particularly concerns a container for packaging graduated, liquid measuring tubes which can be converted into a rack for holding a selected number of such tubes.

Tubular containers lof relatively small 'bore -and carrying volumetric graduations are used in blood sedimentation tests. Such container-s in the form of g-lass tubes, after treatment in accordance 'with conventional practice, are disposed in racks of special construction. The tubes are normally packaged in cardboard containers which are discarded when the tubes are removed.

Accordingly, an yobject of this invention is to provide an improved :container structure for packaging liquid measuring tubes, such as the hematocrit tubes used in blood sedimentation tests; such container struct-ure having Wall portions which are convertible into a rack structure for supporting fa selected number of tubes as the same are being used'for ltest purposes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination container and rack :of the character described, which includes Wall means adapted t-o -facilitate the reading of liquid levels in the graduated tubes When such tubes are supported in the rack means derived from the container.

St-ill ano-ther 'object of this invention Vis to provide an improved container for packaging liquid containing'tubes; such container having a simplified structure which permits the same to be easily and quickly converted in'to a rack structure for supporting graduated tubular liquid containers; such container being economical to manufacture and Which is readily manipulated by the user to convert the original container into rack means.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved container .and rack -for use with -ungraduated tubes lwherein the container includes graduation markings for correlation IWith the tubes in their racked positions.

`Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out,

In the drawing, FIG. l is a side elevational view of a container embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan View thereof with the cover rel moved;

FIG. 3 is ya 4sectional view taken on the `line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial elevational View in section, showing the container converted int-o a tube holding rack;

FIG. 5 is a side View of a graduated tube;

iFIG. 6 is a partial front elevational view showing the container modiiied for racking unmarked tubes;

FIG. 7 is a View similar to that of FIG. l, showing another embodiment of the invention; and

llFIGr. 8 is a View similar to that `of FIG. 7 showing the container in its rack forming condition.

Essentially, the instant invention relates to a container for packaging glass tube containers with a modi-tied Wall structure, which may be manipulated to provide rack means integral with the container; the rack means being adapted to support the liquid containing tubes to allow liquid levels to be easily read and ascertained.

Thus, as shown in the drawing, 1t) designates a container embodying the invention, which is convertible, as desired, into a rack structure for supporting a selected number of small bore tubular liquid containers T, which ICC are graduated .and calibrated, and may be in the form of hematocrit tubes used in blood sedimentation tests or other tubes used in clinical o-r chemical volumetric determinations.

`Container 19, which is `formed -of cardboard or other suitable material, of a selected gauge, comprises a rectangular container body 11 and a -telescoping cover 12. Container body 11 comprises parallel side Walls f13 and parallel end walls 14 which are interconnected Iby a bottom Wall 15.

Means are provided interiorly of container body 11 for holding therein, safe trom breakage during transportation, packages of tubes T which are of relatively small bore, elongated and are formed With calibrated volumetric markings C. To this end, a pair of rectangular shaped, Walled support members 16, 17 in nested relation, are disposed within container body .11. The outer support member 16 comprises parallel side Walls 18 and parallel end Walls 19 interconnected by a top Wal-l 20; the side and end walls being of a length to locate top wall 20 adjacent the top edges of container body 11.

The top Wall 20 of support member 16 is for-med with a pair of spaced, circular openings 121. The inner support member 17 is similar t-o member .16; having comparable walls 1S', 19 and 20', Wall 20 being located intermediate the container bottomwall -15 and the top edges of container `body I111. The openings 21 in lwall 20 of support member 17 are aligned with openings 21 so that packages of tubes T may be inserted in the aligned openings 21, 21 and lling such openings (see RIG. 3).

A tubular reinforcing sleeve 22 of rectangular section may be disposed interiorly of container body 11 with the side walls 2'3 thereof in contact With the inner surface of container side walls 13 and the outer surface of support member side Walls 1S; and walls y24 thereof in contact with the inner surface of container end walls 14 and the outer surface of support member end walls 19.

'Rack means is provided in integral relation with container E1t); Vsuch rack means compri-sing panels 25, of cardboard o r other suitable material and which are rectanguiar in shape. Panels 25 are substantially cocxtensive With side Walls `13 of container body 11 and are iir-mlyse-cured to the outer surfaces thereof, as by adhesive or the like.

The panels 25 are initially formed by die cutting and creasing to provide rectangular shelf Iforming portions 26, 27 and tfdisposed in horizontal, parallel relation. `Such shelf forming portions `are delined by top cut Vlines Z9, end

cut lines 30 and bottom crease -lines 3:1. Also, theys'he-lfV forming portions 26, 27 and 2S are prepunched to form spaced openings 32 ywhich are in vertically aligned rela-V tion. T he openings 32 on the lowermost shelf-rforming portion 2S have a diameter slightly smaller than that of openings 32, which diameter is substantially equal tothe O D. of 'tubes T.

The panels 25 are also provided with semicircular cutouts 33 located centrally and communicating with Ithe top cut lines 29. Such cutouts 33 provide means `for enga-ging top edge portions of the shelf forming portions 26, 27 and 28, :as by a iinger nail, to deiiect such panel portions outwardly of the plane of the panels into horizontal, parallel rack forming relation, as shown in FIG. 4. The crease lines 31 facilitate the folding of the portions Zd-Zt to form the rack means wherein the openings 32, 32 are now in overlying, vertical registry.

It will be apparent, that when container 10 is opened to allow removal therefrom of the packages of tubes T; the panels 2.5 thereof are easily and quickly manipulated to provide at least temporary rrack means for supporting tubes T which have liquid contents such as centrifuged blood specimens or the like. Such tubes T are inserted in the .aligned openings 32, 32; the openings 32 providing bottom locating means for the inserted tubes T.

The container walls 13 as well as panels 25 are of an *opaque white color on their outer surfaces; -thus facilitate reading the calibration markings C on the supported tubes T. Accordingly, the container 1) now serves a dual` Purpose and isrnot discarded after the tubes T are removed therefrom; since the container is yreadily and quickly convertible .to a rack structure. Y

I-t is understood that panels 2S are secured to the walls 13 in a manner to leave the shelf forming portions 25, 27, 28 in unadhercd relation to said walls, thus allowing the portions 26, 27, 28 to be readily displaced into. their rack forming positions.

`In somecases, the tubes to be packaged in container 10 are unmarked and devoid of graduation markings. In such case, the container walls 13 and .the panels 25 are preprinted with graduation markings, as shown in FlG. 6. Thus, vertically aligned portions of said walls 13 and portions of .the panel 25 intermediate shelf forming portions 26-28 are preprinted with columns of graduation markings G, G respectively. Such columns of markings are located 4so that -tubes T racked in the openings 32, 32 of the bent shelf forming portions 26-28 may have their liquid levels read from such markings.

Also, the unmarked tubes T may be packaged in a container 10A similar to container V1d hereinbefore described, except that the rack forming panels 25A are modified somewhat, as show-n in FIGS. 7 and 8. Here the shelf forming panels 26A, 27AV and 2SA are irnmediately adjacent each other without any uncut portions of the panel 25A intervening therebetween.

Thus, shelf forming portion 26A is deiined by la top horizontal cut line 35, end cut lines 36, together with a bottom horizontal cut line 37 which terminates at its opposite ends short of end cut lines 36. A pair of horizontal crease lines 38 of short extent `connect cut line 37 with said end cut lines 36; the crease lines 33 providing hinge means for shelf forming portion 26A when the same is bent out of the plane of panel 25A.

Shelf forming portion 27A is defined by cut line 37, short vertical cut lines 39 extending downwardly from the ends :of cut line 37, short horizontal cut lines 40 extending outwardly `from the ends of cut lines 39, end cut lines 41, a lbottom `cut line 37A which terminates :at its opposite ends short of end cut lines 41, and a pair of short horizontal crease lines 38A which extend from the ends of cut line 37A to the lower end-s of end cut lines 441. Again, crease lines 38A provide hinge means for shelf forming portion 27A when the same is bent out of the plane of panel 25A.

The shelf forming portion 28A is defined by cut line 29A, end cut lines 30A and continuous, bottom crease `line 31A. It will be apparent from a consideration of FIGS. 7, 8, that when the shelf forming portions 26A, 27A and 28A are bent out of the plane of panel V25A to register openings 32, 32'; the outer surface of container wall 13 is fully exposed, except for slight portions corresponding to the thickness of the shelf forming portions. Thus, ungraduated tubes 'T' may be racked therein and with wall 13 preprinted with graduation markings G, in columns located adjacent the tubes, the liquid levels may be read therefrom.

As various changes might be made in the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed without departing from the spirit thereof, it is understood that all matter herein shown or described shall be deemed illustrative and not by W-ay of limitation except as set forth in .the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container for packaging small bore tubular liquid containers, said container comprisint7 a plurality of upstanding walls, rack forming means comprising a panel coextensive with one of said walls and adhesively secured to the outer surface thereof, said panel being pre- -cut and precreased along predetermined lines providing therein a plurality of horizontally extending shelf forming portions, said shelf forming portions lbeing adapted lto oe bent Vout of the plane of sai-d panel and Ihinged thereto along said crease lines, said shelf forming portions being formed with longitudinally spaced openings providing a plurality of sets of vertically aligned openings to respectively receive said tubular containers, the openings in the bottommost of said shelf forming portions beiug of a diameter slightly smaller than that of 4the -other shelf forming portions to receive and locate the bottom ends of 4said liquid containers, the outer surtace of said one opstanding wall being exposed when said shelf for-ming portions are bent out of the plane of said panel.

`2. A container as in claim 1 wherein the exposed surface portion of sai-d one upstanding wall is prem'arked with graduations in laterally spaced vertical columns for correlation with the said tubula-r containers in -t-he openings in said bent shelf forming portions.

3. A container as in claim 1 wherein the bottom most .shelf forming portion is hinged to said panel along a `continuously extending horizontal crease line and each `of the top most and intermediate shelf forming portions is hinved to said panel along short, horizontal crease line portions at the opposite ends thereof, the freebottom edge portion of the top most shelf forming portion abutting the free top edge of the intermediate shelf forming portion and the bottom free edge of the intermediate shelf forming portion abutting the free top edge of the bottom most shelf forming portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,120,311 12/14 Johnson 20S-44.11

1,547,352 7/25 Amatel 206-44.12

1,647,569 11/27 Kaddatz.

1,848,859 3/32 Wishart 206-52 a2,549,568 4/51` Bolding 206-44.11

2,710,094 6/55 Rau 20G-45.15

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING SMALL BORE TUBULAR LIQUID CONTAINERS, SAID CONTAINER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF UPSTANDING WALLS, RACK FORMING MEANS COMPRISING A PANEL COEXTENSIVE WITH ONE OF SAID WALLS AND ADHESIVELY SECURED TO THE OUTER SURFACE THEREOFE, SAID PANEL BEING PRECUT AND PRECREASED ALONG PREDETERMINED LINES PROVIDING THERIN A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING SHELF FORMING PORTIONS, SAID SHELF FORMING PORTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO BE BENT OUT OF THE PLANE OF SAID PANEL AND HINGED THERETO ALONG SAID CREASE LINES, SAID SHELF FORMING PORTIONS BEING FORMED WITH LONGITUDINALLY SPACED OPENINGS PROVIDING A PLURALITY OF SETS OF VERTICALLY ALIGNED OPENINGS TO RESPECTIVELY RECEIVE SAID TUBULAR CONTAINERS, THE OPENINGS IN THE BOTTOMMOST OF SAID SHELF FORMING PORTIONS BEING OF A DIAMETER SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THAT OF THE OTHER SHELF FORMING PORTIONS TO RECEIVE AND LOCATE THE BOTTOM ENDS OF SAID LIQUID CONTAINERS, THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID ONE UPSTANDING WALL BEING EXPOSED WHEN SAID SHELF FORMING PORTIONS ARE BENT OUT OF THE PLANE OF SAID PANEL. 